Convertible game-table.



PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

N. B. STONE. CONVERTIBLE GAME TABLE. APPLIOATION FILED ocT.z2. 1902. No MODEL.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1` No. 766,072. PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

N. B. STONE. CONVERTIBLE GAME TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 22. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

N. B. STONE.

CONVERTIBLE GAME TABLE.l

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22. 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

Patented. July 26, 1904.

EEicE.

NA"HANIEL B. STONE, vOF OUTLOOK, VASHINGTON.

' CONVERTIBLE GAME-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 766,072, dated July 26, 1904.

Application led October 22, 1902. Serial No. 128,288. (No model.)

To all whom, it Huey concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL B. STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Outlook, in the county of Yakima and State of l/Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Grame- Tables, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to provide an article of furniture of common household use which will combine therewith a game-table, suchas a billiard or pool table, the construction being of a character to enable said article to be easily and conveniently converted from one use to the other without undue labor oi expenditure of strength. I have shown the construction as applied to a sofa or lounge, to which I find it particularly adapted.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my combined lounge and billiard-table as it appears when ready for use as such table; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section through the same as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the article opened as when ready for use as a lounge, a portion of the upholstering being broken away to better illustrate the interior construction; Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrows from the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating a modiiied construction; Fig'. 6, a detailed perspective of one end of a footpiece or base-frame, illustrating' the form of mechanism employed for leveling the table; Fig. 7, a detail view of the locking device for supporting the adjusting mechanism in its various positions, and Fig. 8 a perspective view of a key for adjusting the leveling mechanism.

ln said drawings the portions marked A represent the frame or base of the article, B the table-top, and O', O2, and O3 the several parts of the upholstering. The main frame or base is of suitable size and form to support the parts, consisting, preferably, of footpieces A and end pieces A', mounted thereon and connected by front and rear rails A5, as shown, securely braced by a central transverse bar aand brace-rods a', which extend diagonally from one corner of one end to the opposite corner of the other end, being provided with turnbuckles a2, by which their tension may be adjusted. The end pieces A are mounted on the top of the end or foot piece A, supported by connecting-bars am, secured rigidly to the pieces Al and connected by slots and boltswith the pieces A, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. Said parts A/ are also adjustably supported on the foot-pieces A by the mechanism shown in Fig. 6. Said mechanism comprises a screw 10, having a head 11 mounted in a socket 12,. which is inserted in the under face of said portion A. fhe lower end of said screw is inserted in a perforation in the upper edge of the foot-piece A and engages with a nutr13, mounted in a mortise, so that its perforation will register therewith. A worm gear-wheel 14 is rigidly mounted on said screw 10, and a worm 15, mounted in suitable bearings on a plate 16, which is mounted in the lower edge of part A', engages therewith and serves as the means for adjusting the device. One of these screws is mounted at each corner of the frame between the parts A and A, with the square end of worm 15 projecting conveniently for the application of a key, (see Fig.

8,) by which it may be turned to adjust said screw. By this means, as will be readily understood, the table may be leveled on any floor or surface upon which it may be mounted. On the rear corner of part A/ is mounted a standard A2, and on the rear corner of each standard is formed a hook-shaped bearing or notch a3. Projecting forward from said standard is an arm A3, with its rear end pivoted near the top of the said standard and supported at its forward end by being pivoted to a sliding standard Ai. Said standard A is mounted to slide in a Way formed in the inner face of part A. The lower end of said standard is widened and provided with a transverse slot Said lower end rests upon and is supported by a coiled spring a5, which will normally support said standard in its uppermost position to maintain arm A3 horizontally. A crank-shaft f l extends from one end of the frame to the other, being journaled at each end in a suitable bearing on the lower edge of part A. A crank a is formed in said shaft near each end where it passes through the slot cf in the standards A4. On each of the outer ends of said shaft is mounted a crank or handle a7, by which it may be turned. A disk 2O is mounted near the center of said shaft adjacent to the cross-bar a, being formed with projections 21 on its periphery at points where their engagements with a catch 22, pivoted on said cross-bar a, Will hold said shaft to support standards Adt in one or the other of their eXtreme positions. A spring 23 serves to hold said catch 22 into an engagement with said disk. The formation of the catch and projections on the disk are such as to permit said shaft to be turned when sufficient force is applied, while preventing it from turning accidentally. This form is most clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The table B consists of a rectangular frame containing a top of such material as is suitable for billiard-table purposes, covered with felt or cloth, as is usual. /Vhile any suitable top may be used, l prefer to construct it as indicated in Fig. 2, wherein m indicates a metal plate, m a sheet of paper, pulp, or other hard non-resonant material, and m2 the cloth or fabric covering. A rod or shaft 5 extends from one end of the frame to the other, being journaled at its ends in the end pieces thereof. Wheels or rollers Z/ with grooved faces are rigidly mounted on said shaft to engage with and run upon the arms A3, which serve as tracks therefor, as will be presently described. Behind the shaft I) are mounted pins or studshafts b3, which project from the end pieces `of the frame inwardly toward each other a sufcient distance to cross the standards A2. Said pins are in a plane slightly above `the plane of the shaft L, as shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose to be presently described.

The upholstering parts C of the bottom of the lounge and C3 of its back are preferably formed separate, so as to fit within the respective frames of the base A and under side of the table B, so that they are adapted to be removed therefrom when desired. The upholstering parts C3of the arms are also formed to be separated from the lounge, having pockets or central openings which are adapted to fit over the arms A3 and covering the conA struction on both sides, as shown.

In use, the parts being inthe position shown in Figs. l and 2 and it being desired to convert the table into a lounge, the user turns the handles a7 of the crank-shaft A3, so as to elevate the cranks, and through them elevate the standards At and arms A3 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3,

carrying the table-top upwardly, the springs a3 assisting' in this operation. The weight of the table is then supported on the rollers resting upon the arms A3, which serve as tracks for said rollers. The operator then pushes the table-top backwardly until the face of the rollers strike the front edge of the upper end of standards A2 at the point a3, the pins Z22 passing over the tops of said standards and registering with the notches t3 in the rear corner thereof. The rollers being rigid on the shaft, each must travel with equal speed, insuring that theends of the table shall move evenly and any binding or uneven motion be thus prevented. The operator then lifts the front edge of the table-top, which top pivots on said rollers, which are held by said projecting faces a3 of the standards at the beginning of the movement, and said pins drop into said notches and then serve as pivots upon which said table is tilted into a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3. Said pins 62 being substantially centrallylocated, the table-top is nearly balanced and but little effort is required to elevate it. The edge of the table when in a vertical position rests upon the top of the rear ends of the foot-pieces A of the frame, as shownin Fig. 4, so that'rhe strain of the weight of the said top will not fall heavily upon the standards A2 and the pivot-pins b2. The upholstering parts C/ and C3 maybe left permanently in position except when it is desired to remove them for the purpose of access to the mechanism. rlhe upholstering parts C3 of the arms are, however, removed and replaced at each change of the article, being so fitted that the change may be quickly and conveniently effected. In changing from the lounge, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, to the table, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the operator simply pulls upon the top edge of the table to tilt it forward upon the stud-shafts Le until the rollers rest upon the tracks A3. He then draws it forward upon said rollers and tracks until stops b3 on the rear rail of the table-frame strike the rear edges of the standards A2. These stops are so arranged as to limit the movement of the table-top to exactly the position required to bring it into proper position for use. The operator then, through the handle a7, turns the crank-shaft A3 to bring the arms A3 down to the position shown in Fig. 2. rl`he front of the frame of the table is by this motion brought to rest squarely and firmly upon the top of the part A/ of the base. When lowered, the metal plates which serve as the stops 3 on the rear edge will rest en the top of said base. The springs a5 beneath the lower end of standards A serve to prevent the table from dropping suddenly and with any jar upon the base, and in raising said standards they operate to assist matcrially in lifting the weight of the table-top after the crank-shaft is turned beyond the IOO IIO

center. The catch 22 engages with the projections 21 upon the periphery of disk 20 in each of the extreme positions of said crankshaft and holds it against any accidental displacement.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of the construction, which consists in substituting for the shaft I) two shafts 25 and 26, each of which has rollers 27 and 28, respectively, mounted thereon. The rear end of arms 29, corresponding to the arms A3 in the principal construction, are formed with a depression just at the top of the standards 30 and are then curved upwardly to form stops 3l, against which the rear rollers 28 will contact. The operation is essentially the same as in the principal construction. The rear rollers '28 serve as the pivots upon which the table-top is tilted in lieu of the pins or shafts b2. In this view I have also indicated the standards 30 as being extended down and around the rear end of the base to give it greater strength and rigidity, it being' divided between parts A and A to allow the adjustments thereof. Such modifications and others in the details of construction may be made, as will be readily understood, without departing' from my said invention.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A convertible game-table comprising a base, angularly-adjustable supports carried by said base, a table-top having rollers journaled thereon which rollers are mounted to travel on said supports when the table-top is in its normal position, and pivots behind said rollers adapted to engage withbearings formed on said supports whereby said top may be tilted from one position to the other, substantially as set forth.

2. A convertible game-table comprising a base or frame, standards mounted at one side of said frame, arms or tracks pivoted to said standards at one end and supported on vertically-movable standards at their other ends, means for elevating and depressing said standards, a table-top provided with a longi-A forwardly, vertically f adjustable standards mounted in ways in the base or frame supporting the front ends of said arms, springs mounted under the lower ends of said adjustable standards, a crank-shaft journaled in the base the cranks whereof engage with slides in said adjustable standards, and the table-top mounted on rollers on said arms and formed with pivots to engage the bearings in said standards, substantially as set forth.

4. A combined lounge and game-table comprising a suitable base, supports for the table-top hinged at one end to said base and arranged to be raised and lowered in relation thereto at their other ends, means for raising and lowering said ends, a table-top provided with rollers mounted on said supports, and a pivot connection between said base and tabletop whereby it may be moved horizontally on said supports and tilted to a substantially vertical position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a combined game-board and lounge the combination of the frame or base, the angularly-adjustable supports for the table-top carried thereby, said table-top mounted to slide on said supports, a crank-shaft for raising and lowering the forward ends of said supports, and a locking device for engaging said crank-shaft and holding it in its respective positions against accidental movement, substantially as set forth.

6. In a combined game-table and lounge, the combination with the base of angularlymovable supports for the table-top carried by said base, springs for supporting the forward ends of said supports, the table-top slidingly mounted thereon whereby the top may be moved horizontally on said supports, and means whereby said top may then be tilted from a horizontal to an approximately vertical position.

7 A convertible game-table comprising a frame, horizontal supports for the table-top mounted on said frame, means for adjusting said supports angularly in relation to said frame, the table-top mounted Aon said supports to slide back and forth thereon, and a pivot connection between saidframe and table-top whereby said table-top may be tilted from a4 horizontal to a vertical position, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Washington, District of Columbia, this 11th day ofOctober, A. D. 1902.

NATHANIEL B. STONE. [L. s l

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, ROBERT E. LEWIS.

IOO 

